Innovation Anthology #555:

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People who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia have higher concentrations of iron in various parts of their brains.

Dr. Richard Frayne is a professor and imaging specialist at the University of Calgary.

With funding from the Alberta/Pfizer Translational Research Program, he is developing a way to map iron deposits in the brain.

DR. RICHARD FRAYNE: Instead of taking really what are pictures of the brain, we can now use very sophisticated acquisition imaging process techniques to take those same pictures but quantitate and develop numbers of the concentration of iron in the different structures in the brain.

Scientists don’t know if iron concentration are the cause or the after effect in these neurological diseases.

DR. RICHARD FRAYNE: What this technique will hopefully do is allow us to predict relatively early on individuals who may be experiencing the early stages of neuro-degeneration. It also may allow us to evaluate new therapies that are emerging by providing very sensitive techniques to assess the degree of neuro-degeneration using a a non-invasive imaging test.

Dr. Richard Frayne is refining mathematical algorithms to move the imaging technology towards commercialization.

Thanks today to Alberta Innovates Health Solutions

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I’M CHERYL CROUCHER

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Alberta Innovates Health Solutions

Alberta Innovates (formerly Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions)

As the newly formed Alberta Innovates corporation, we still fund top quality, internationally competitive health research and innovation activities to improve the health and wellbeing of Albertans. We provide leadership for Alberta’s health research and innovation enterprise by directing, coordinating, reviewing, funding and supporting research and innovation.

Working with our many partners  in the health system, we ensure that research achieves innovation in care, policy and practice, and that the needs of patients and clinicians influence research.

Our background

Alberta Innovates consolidation was launched November 1, 2016.

Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions

Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions was established as part of the Alberta Innovates system by an Act of Legislation of the Government of Alberta. It is a agency  of the Government of Alberta. We receive a yearly allocation from the Ministry of Health and report through the ministry to the people of Alberta.

Our Mandate and Roles document reflects our role and responsibilities and outlines the government statues and regulations with which we comply.

Alberta’s Health Research and Innovation Strategy (AHRIS) sets out Alberta’s health research agenda for the coming decade to ensure our considerable investments in research align with our priority—to improve the health of Albertans.

 

 

Program Date: 2013-05-07